, 1887-02-09
THE PANAMA CANAL.

However willing the writer may be, the
task is extremely difficult, to convey u
good and graphic idea of the work which
has been done on the Canal, or what has
yet to he accomplished, as u large volume
would be required to do justice to the
subject.
Tie year 1887 opens under most favour.
able auspices for the Canal. Along the
whole line efforts are being made to have
every preparation to push forward the
work during the coming dry season, and,
should it prove a favourable and prOl0ng.
ed one, progress will be effected which
will satisfy even those who are most anx-
iouS to see the won completed.
The work of construction on the Cant is
at present in tn hands OF a small number
of principal contractors, and the work
being accomplished is divided as follows:
From Christopher Columbus on the
Atlantic side the Canal is navigable for
small vessels nearly up to kilometre Is,
with the exception where two rocky bar
rirrs exist at Mindi, at kilometre 8, and
which will be removed within about three
or fOnr months time. The distance com
priSed between Colon and the kilometro
mentioned is in the hands of the Ameri-
can Dredging Co., OF which Mr.. Slaven is
President. This work covers about 23d
kilometres of the Canal channel, and in it
TIL" interesting task OF changing the course
Of the Gatnn river has been almost accom-
plishrd by MrsSrS. PapadopolaS g. Co.
AT BohiO SoldadO, and extending over p
to 3 kilometres, a small hill was formerly
to be found, but this has almost been re.
moved 10y MeSSrS Antique and Snndcrpgger.
From this point to Malachin from kilome-
tire rs, to kiiomptre Al, that is to SAY,
for u distance Of IS kilometres. AeSSrS.
Eignaud, Barbaud. Blanleuil 81 Co., are
at work. This firm has also charge of the
whole of the work in this section, and in
which there are several separate SidiugS.
Work is also pushed rapidly here. %From
kilomptrc II, t. the foot Of Culp5ri hill,
the Public Works and Building Company,
represented by NJ. BOnafouS, are ptfrcting
gigantic preparations. IN this section is
situated the great reservoir and The Cam
boa dam. Located Erre also is the Empa.
rador section entrusted to NJ. Jlcquemin.
All immense quantity Of earth has al
ready been moved from this locality. Tue
Cnlebtt section, which Offers tho great.
est difficulty i'll the whole work, runs
from kil0 $4,000 to kil0 81. 1t is not,
fortunately, the most lengthy, but it il
that which presents the most serious diff.
C%ultirS owing to the vast quantities of
earth which nave to be moved, the num-
berleSS difficulties met with in locating the
entertainments, and also TO the depth of
the cuts, which, being all made in a soil
which is iriable and not compact, have to
be contracted in such a manner as to reach
the diScharging places. MeSSrS. Antique,
S0nderegger & Co. are entrusted with
this Titanic work.
1t must be remembered that at this place
the work TO be done is not like piling
PeliOn on OsSa, it is rather one in which
Roland would require his famous Duran
dial, to cut through rock and earth at each
blow. At Culpbra the work is carried on
from all points ut once, and it il expected
that an enormous amount of work will rave
been executed there by the end of the dry
season..
From Paraiso to the extremity of the
Canal on the Pacific, and up to NaOs island,
the entire work is in the hands of Messrs.
BaratOuX, Letellier s. Co.
Here the difficulty does not consist, as
at Paradise AMI Pedro Miguel, in eating
through SOiil rocks. The obstacle to be
overcome is an immense morasS, in which
the mpl is always soft, and thus demand
ing special works of great Importance.
When the channel to the sea is opened,
AMI this will be within a very short period,
"a great stride forward will have been male,
not only lis regards the Canal itself, but
also respecting the advantageous facilities
which will at once be rendered available
to vessels arriving at Panama. They will